Author(s)

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The dynamics of conversion of conduction electrons into topological solitons of a charge density wave (CDW) commensurability in an external electric field is investigated. A novel mechanism of initiation of a nonlinear CDW current in the vicinity of the interface between a CDW and a normal metal is revealed and explained. The nonlinear current is produced by the conduction solitons created by the moving profile of the order parameter, formed during the conversion of electrons into collective phase excitations of a CDW. The field dependence of the current is of threshold nature and has no analogs in the bulk mechanisms of CDW nonlinearity.